Needlestick Injuries And Guidelines For Management

Course overview

Needlestick injuries are a major concern for all healthcare professionals. There are more than 10 million workers actively employed in the healthcare industry who come into regular contact with patients. Despite rigid adherence to universal precautions, needlestick injuries continue to occur, albeit at a low rate. The identification of HIV in the early 1980s heightened awareness of needlestick injuries. However, a bigger threat to healthcare professionals today is the risk of acquiring hepatitis B or hepatitis C through a needlestick. Once the wound site is cleaned, the prerequisite for starting postexposure prophylaxis for HIV with antiretrovirals is based on evaluating the risk by using the three-step process developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.